Learners provide comfort for Mothers Of Africa

A group of learners from Coleg y Cymoedd are using their expertise to create quilts for charity Mothers of Africa.

31 learners on the Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design have been stitching quilts to be distributed to hospitals and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Three groups of learners have been involved with the Mothers of Africa Sponsored Quilt Project from January to June. Each group has had seven weeks to work on experimental textile techniques before applying their new skills to a final patchwork piece.

The first of the cot quilts from the learners has been completed, and the second and third quilts are nearly finished. Mothers of Africa have been blogging the success of the project and their appreciation at the learner’s involvement.

The quilts will also be displayed at the Art and Design end of year exhibition at the Nantgarw campus. The show will start with the private viewing on the 19th June and remain on show for a week.

This is the second year the colleges Art and Design department have been involved with this project after Esme Cowan, a Fashion and Textiles tutor at Coleg y Cymoedd, was inspired by the cause.

The learners are working on squares for three cot quilts which will be ready in the summer; these will be sent to Africa to help mothers in childbirth in remote hospitals and communities in Africa.

Tutor Sarah Brown said: ‘’Our learners have really enjoyed this project, it has given them the opportunity to learn a range of new textiles skills and apply them to produce beautiful pieces, it’s been great to see their efforts going towards such a great cause.’’

Maggie Cullinane at Mothers of Africa Sponsored Quilt Project: “It is fantastic to be receiving three quilts from the talented college learners, and they are also raising money for Mothers of Africa. Many thanks to all who have contributed, we can’t wait to see the finished quilts!”